Friday, June 27, 2008 Coke, Alaska Aces face off for solo third place
MANILA - The Coca-Cola Tigers and the Alaska Aces try to keep their respective hope of an outright semifinal berth alive when they clash today in the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Both the defending champion Aces and the Tigers, who are bearing 7 losses, remain in contention for the two automatic semifinal slots.
Thus, the winner between the Aces and the Tigers in their 4:50 p.m. encounter will occupy the solo third position, just two wins away from solo leader Air 21 and a win from second placer Red Bull.
Meanwhile, Purefoods and Sta. Lucia try to strengthen their respective hope for an outright quarterfinal entry when they battle in the second game at 7:20 p.m.
Air21 moved just a win away from formalizing its entry into the semifinal round for the first time since 2002 by surviving a close 90-88 win over Magnolia Beverage last Wednesday, thanks to 6-foot-9 import Steve Thomas, who scored a turnaround jumper off Amal McCaskill in the final 2.9 seconds.
The squeaker at least assured the Express of a playoff for the second automatic semis berth, presuming that Red Bull and Coca-Cola win their last two matches.
The Aces, which has an 8-7 slate, is the other team than can also gain a semis playoff if they sweep their remaining three games including against the Tigers today.
If three or more teams finish with similar record at the top of the standing after the double round elimination, a quotient system will be used to determine the two squads which will dispute the second semis berth in a knockout playoff.
“There are still a lot of complications. But to assure ourselves of a semis berth then we must beat Purefoods in our last game,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol
Red Bull, on the other hand, moved just a game away from a playoff by beating lowly Welcoat, 103-90, in the other match also on Wednesday. (FCC)
